Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. As we go through the summer of 2023, each day our LWOS Prospects Writers will bring you a look at one NHL team’s top prospects or other topical article. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow Ben Kerr, Kyle Pereira and Frederik Frandson on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! You can find all the articles here as well as our extensive NHL Draft preview. Today, we look at the 2023 Nashville Predators Top Prospects.
For those wondering, the cut-off for what is or isn’t a prospect is typically about 50 NHL games played (including playoff games) or is 25 years old. These are not hard or fast rules though, and we may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.
2023 Nashville Predators Top Prospects
1.) Yaroslav Askarov
Yaroslav Askarov was a highly coveted goaltender back in 2020, before he was even selected 11th overall by the Predators. He has only solidified his standing as one of the best goaltenders not yet in the NHL full-time. The season after he was drafted, he played nine KHL games (1.21 goals against average and .951 save percentage), six VHL games (2.12 GAA, .923 SV%), and two MHL games (0.5 GAA, .979 SV%). Then, in the 2021-22 campaign, he played just six KHL games (1.81 GAA, .913 SV%) and nine VHL games (2.57 GAA, .899 SV%). That was a step down, clearly, but he also barely played. That was to no fault of his own, however.
That being said, Askarov would end up signing his entry-level contract and came over to North America for last season. Playing 48 AHL games, Askarov would record a 2.69 GAA and a .911 SV%, which is an excellent rookie performance for a goalie in the AHL. As a matter of fact, it was impressive enough to earn an NHL start, where he did struggle. However, Askarov displays elite athletic ability, and his athletic profile proved to be incredibly efficient against tougher competition. Askarov likely will remain in the AHL next season, but if he can draw into a few more NHL games next season, that will be nice for his development.
2.) Joakim Kemell
Joakim Kemell, a 2022 draft selection (17th overall), finished last season in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals. In his draft year, Kemell played full-time in the top Finnish men’s league, Liiga. Playing 39 games, he managed to produce 23 points, a really strong out-put for a then-18-year-old. However, last season, he would draw into 43 Liiga contests and see a slide down in production (15 points). However, when he made the move to the AHL, he finished that season with 13 points in 14 games.
Kemell is a dangerous goal-scorer. The power and accuracy is pro-ready, and has the potential to hit the 30-goal mark or higher at his peak. His skating also improved, which goes a long way towards reaching his ceiling. The main thing that dragged his production down was the lack of luck, as his shooting percentage as an 18-year-old was over 20%. That luck wore out, but the talent and scoring abilities are still there and can thrive. Building up his playmaking and continuing those skating improvements will go a very long way. Kemell could push for a roster spot next season, in some capacity.
3.) Matthew Wood
Matthew Wood was just recently selected at the 2023 NHL draft, and adds to the Nashville Predators prospects pipeline in a big way. Literally. He is 6’4” and 196 pounds at 18 years old and shows versatility having played both centre and left wing in his young career. Last season, as a true freshman in the NCAA with the University of Connecticut, Wood impressed with 34 points in 35 games. That is a big reason why the Predators snagged him with the 15th overall selection.
Wood is an all-around solid player. He’s mature in the defensive zone, able to help his team out in their own end consistently and efficiently. Then, when he or a teammate gets the puck to move up ice, he can be very efficient as an outlet pass or as a puck carrier, transporting the puck from defence to offence. Then, once in the offensive end, his abilities away from the puck and hard-nosed style allow him to score greasy goals. Not only that, but his shot in general packs a ton of power and can be lethal from mid-range or closer. Wood needs to work on his skating, but time in the NCAA will allow him to add that to his game, among other things.
4.) Luke Evangelista
Luke Evangelista was drafted back in the 2020 NHL draft (42nd overall) and has consistently shown steady improvement towards his NHL ceiling. Following getting scooped up in the second round in the 2020 draft, Evangelista, along with every other person in the world, was hit with COVID restrictions. That forced him into the AHL, and he only played 14 total games the whole year. In those games, he posted just four points. But Evangelista would hit the ground running in his OHL return. He would break-out with 111 points in 62 OHL games, showing that the missed time did not hinder his progression. Last season, Evangelista turned pro and got into 24 NHL games (15 points) and impressed. Additionally, he played 49 AHL games and posted 41 points.
Evangelista’s impressive pro season and extended time in the NHL shows he may be on his way to a full-time roster spot. Unlike the higher ceiling players ahead of him on the Nashville Predators prospects top-10 list, he has the undeniable work ethic. He may not be the most skilled in terms of shooting or stickhandling, but he never stops moving his feet and makes things happen. A ball of energy, Evangelista is well on his way to being a full-time NHLer for the Predators as soon as next season.
5.) Tanner Molendyk
Tanner Molendyk joins Wood as a 2023 draft pick that strengthens the Nashville Predators prospects pipeline. Molendyk was taken 24th overall, coming off a 37-point campaign across 67 WHL games as a blueliner. That comes after an 18-point campaign the year prior (in 55 games). With the performance, he was largely rated as a top-50 prospect, with a couple outlets giving him a first-round grade.
Molendyk’s best trait is his puck-moving abilities. Transporting the puck up ice as a defenceman is increasing in importance year after year as analytics grows in value. Additionally, Molendyk has an interesting offensive skill set, with strong passing skills and a decent shot that can be improved over time. Finally, he defends the rush well and is overall just a smart player in his own end. The biggest concern is his size (5’11” and 176 pounds), acceleration, and consistency. If he can put all the pieces together on a consistent basis, Molendyk could be a top-four defender for the Predators down the line.
6.) Fedor Svechkov
Svechkov, who was drafted in the 2021 NHL draft (19th overall) has been working his way up the ranks over in Russia. When he was drafted, he played most of his season in the VHL, but also had a few MHL games. The year after being selected in the top-20, the Russian centre drew into four KHL games (no points) while also getting 30 VHL games with 31 points. He also played an additional four MHL games with eight points. Last season, Svechkov would play a majority of the season in the KHL, with four points in 27 games. He would also see 14 VHL games with seven points and five MHL games with eight points.
Svechkov’s offensive game has never been his strength, and is something that many teams looked at and decided to pass up on draft day back in 2021. However, he has improved in that department, and will look to continue to add more offensive skill to his game. Instead, his strength has always been his puck-moving abilities and mature defensive game. Svechkov is and likely always will lean towards being more of a shut-down centre. Again, his offensive game is solid and has improved along with his skating, but not to the point to make him an “elite” prospect. Svechkov likely ends up as a middle-six matchup defender, with some upside for the top-six lines.
7.) Zach L’Heureux
L’Heureux is a first round pick (27th overall) from back in the 2021 NHL draft. Since being drafted, his production offensively has improved, but his overall growth as a player hasn’t. Over the last two seasons he recorded 56 points (in 46 games) and 42 points (in 33 games). That came after he produced 39 points in 33 games in his draft year. Once again, even though he has scored more, the actual growth is limited. But that isn’t even the main reason. L’Heureux has missed a lot of time, getting hit with nine suspensions in four years at the QMJHL level. He constantly teeters on the line of what’s clean and what isn’t. Not to mention, he has also dealt with injuries, which has also held him back from taking true steps forward.
L’Heureux is a strong player, and is very physical in all three zones. Not only that, but he plays surprisingly well with the puck on his stick. He’s able to puck protect well and can display some strong stickhandling abilities every so often. Plus, L’Heureux has a strong shot, and paired with his playing style, can generate quite a bit in tight to the net. However, the discipline issues need to be sorted. Not only that, but he still has not taken that big step forward in development, and he is likely headed to the AHL next season, as his junior career is over. Odds are slowly being stacked against his chances of making that leap forward.
8.) Egor Afanasyev
Egor Afanasyev, drafted in the second round (45th overall) in 2019, managed to get into 17 NHL games last season. That’s a huge development for the 22 year old forward. Since being drafted out of the USHL, Afanasyev would end up heading to the OHL, where he scored 67 points in 62 games. The following season, due to COVID-19, he would head over to Russia. There, he scored six points in 16 KHL games to go along with six points in four MHL games. After being loaned out to Russia, Afanasyev would make his return to North America, playing 74 games, all at the AHL level. In his rookie AHL season, he produced a solid 33 points. This past season, Afanasyev would mainly play in the AHL once again, scoring 26 points in 57 games. However, he earned a 17-game stint, and would score his first career goal.
The big forward stands at 6’4” and 212 pounds, and plays a more skilled game. Afanasyev has improved his skating over the years, which was already a solid trait for a player of his size. Continuing to improve in that area has likely helped contribute in a big way towards getting those 17 NHL games last season. Afanasyev has a strong shot and good puck skills, and if he can continue to hone in on those skills, he can grow to be a very good middle-six player. His development has really helped strengthen the Nashville Predators prospects pipeline.
9.) Reid Schaefer
Schaefer, a first-round pick (32nd overall) back in 2022 by the Edmonton Oilers, was acquired by the Predators in the Mattias Ekholm deal. Schaefer adds more size (6’4” and 218 pounds) to a prospect pool that has seemingly put a focus on bigger players in recent years. The big left winger upped his production since being drafted as well. In his draft year in the WHL, he scored 58 points in 66 games. Last season, he managed to produce 61 points in 55 games. Next season, the big winger is expected to make the jump to the AHL.
Schaefer is not an explosive offensive player to this point. However, his skating has steadily improved and he continues to own a powerful and accurate shot. While he doesn’t create much on his own offensively, he does drive the net both with and without the puck, and focuses on the smaller details which creates open space for more skilled teammates to take advantage. Schaefer may not end up as a top-of-the-lineup player, but his playing style could make him an effective bottom-six power forward with some goal-scoring upside.
10.) Juuso Parssinen
Juuso Parssinen is the unlikeliest of all the aforementioned players to have made it to the NHL levels. Yet, here he is. Parssinen was drafted 210th overall in the 2019 NHL draft and has done nothing but prove he was a steal. Playing both centre and wing, the 6’3” and 212-pound forward continues to add to that pattern of size and strength to the Nashville Predators prospects pool. After being drafted, he would produce 21 points in 20 U20 Liiga games before making the move to the top Finnish men’s league, Liiga. Combining the three seasons he played in Liiga, he scored 86 points in 127 games. That all led to last season, where he would play 10 AHL games, scoring nine points, before making the jump to the NHL. There, he would play 45 games, and scored an incredibly impressive 25 points.
Expected to play in the NHL again next season, full-time. However, an injury late in the season ended what was such an impressive start to his career. The hope is that it doesn’t impact this upcoming season. Also, that he is able to get the wheels back on track. Parssinen is a reliable centre in his own end, and has taken massive strides in developing his offensive game. While he may not be a top-six caliber player, he seems to be a lock for the bottom-six. He could even emerge as a solid middle-six option down the line for the Predators.
HM (Round 4 or Later): Spencer Stastney
Spencer Stastney, like Parssinen, was a late-round draft pick with the odds stacked against him. Despite being the 131st overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft, Stastney managed to play eight NHL games last season, scoring two points. After being drafted, Stastney went to the University of Notre Dame. In his first two seasons, he played 75 games and scored 24 points. However, he would finish with 68 games in his last two seasons, scoring 39 points. A nice uptick in production from the defenceman, including a 27-point senior season (in 39 games). With his college season wrapped up, he would play 56 AHL games, scoring 13 points. That allowed him to get that stint in the NHL.
Stastney won’t wow anyone, at this point, with offensive skill. However, he is such a smart player and does an excellent job reading the opposition to make the right plays consistently. Continuing to build his offensive skill set and opening up his game a little more could make him reach another level in his game. Meanwhile, his transitional skills and reliable defensive ability should allow him to earn more NHL games moving forward. It makes his game translatable to the NHL level. Another late-round draft choice working out, continuing to strengthen the Nashville Predators prospects pipeline.
In The System
The Nashville Predators prospects pipeline is a loaded one. They have their goalie of the future in Askarov, several smart, responsible and heavy forwards, and a high upside defender. Add to that the depth with Parssinen and Stastney, and the Predators have a ton of potential future NHLers to keep their roster well-stocked. That doesn’t even include the young players already on the NHL squad. Those players include Phillip Tomasino, Cody Glass, and Dante Fabbro. Meanwhile, some players to miss the top-10 include Kalan Lind, Nolan Burke, Marc Del Gaizo, Luke Prokop, and Jake Livingstone.
While the Predators have a nice up-and-coming pool, the ones who have graduated aren’t exactly game-changers. Outside of Askarov, there’s no prospect that has truly elite potential. But, the Predators are also in the midst of a rebuild. Meaning they will have another chance to add a high-end talent through the draft in the 2024 class. That said, the Nashville Predators prospects pipeline is solid. And it will only get better as they add more talent to the pool moving forward.
Main Photo: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports
